CLASSICAL PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.

During the Hellenistic and into the Roman period, there was a tendency to depict Dionysos as an androgynous, almost feminine youth, as seen on any number of nude marble statues of the god.  However, this penchant already had precedents in the 4th century B.C., when several surviving draped figures display a body that, were it headless, would no doubt be identified as portraying a goddess.  In addition to the fine statuette presented here, see the seated figure, also 4th century B.C. in date, in the Hermitage, St. Petersberg, no. 136 in C. Gaspari, “Dionysos,” in LIMC.